20 MTV VMA Fashion Choices That We Assume Must Have Made Sense At The Time

Look, I’m not going to say I don’t respect the hell out of what Prince is wearing above, from the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards, but it is very of its time. You probably won’t see, say, Katy Perry wearing something like that at this year’s VMAs, which go down tomorrow, though if she wanted to, no one would complain.

Prince’s fishnet made out of Kraft macaroni and cheese look isn’t the only “you had to be there” fashion choice in the VMAs long history of questionable fashion choices, though. Here are 20 notably dated VMAs outfits, one for each year from 1984 to 2003, when what people wore stopped being as hilariously awful. Also, Britney’s snake get-up because obviously.

0I don’t think Prince needs to explain any of his fashion choices throughout his career. I don’t think he even needs to explain the bizarre period during which he was referred to as The Artist Formerly Known As Prince. The only thing I want an explanation for is his uncanny ability to look gayer than a $3 bill and still sleep with more women in one night than I have in my whole life.